Ventilating system for refrigerator cars



y 14, 1929- c. A. MOORE 1,712,710

VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed March 22, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 LO KW .unu

Fig.1

May 14, 1929.

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c. A. MOORE 1,712,710

VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 'March 22, 1927 Charles A. Moore May 14, 1929. A, Mo r; 1,712,710

VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed March 22, 1927' 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.4

grwwvtoc Charles Moore Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES CHARLES A. MOORE, OF EDINA, MINNESOTA.

VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS.

Application filed March 22, 1927. Serial No. 177,317.

My invention relates to improvements in ventilating systems for refrigerator cars.

In practice, it. often occurs that perishable produce deteriorates in the ordinary refrigerator cars equipped with end ice bunkers. And this despite the fact that such bunkers are amply supplied with ice. Deterioration takes place largely in the upper portion of the car and particularly at.-

the center thereof because the lading in that locality is unsutliciently effected by the refrigerant in the. end bunkers and because of poor circulation and want of ventilation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved ventilating system for refrigerator cars, the same being economically applicable to the usual end bunker car and adapted effectively to ventilate the lading in such car and at the same time caus the thorough refrigeration thereof. 1

Another object is to provide a system of the present nature including a simple and inexpensive arrangement of conduits and ducts in connection with the end bunkers of a car adapted to provide for refrigerated ventilation of the car by gravity.

A further object is to incorporate a blower fan in such a system whereby the action of gravity in the natural movement of air within the car may be augmented.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a ventilating system, as above, the same providing for relatively stimulating the fiow of air at selected portions of .the car, whereby a uniform refrigerated, ventilated condition may be maintained under the various conditions'presented by the different lading placed within the car.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following description, the invention is in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a'longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator car equipped to illustrate an embodiment of my inven tion; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

, Reference being had to the drawings, it

will be seen that the illustrated structure inbody consisting of'the usual insulated floor 11,'s1des 12, ends 13 and roof 14. Within the car body are false ends 15 forming bunkers or compartments B adapted to contain ice or other suitable refrigerant. Un-

like the usual end bunker, these compartments B are not open at their upper portion of the lading chamber C provided between said false ends 15. Said compartments, however, communicate at their lower portions with the lower portion of the chamber C through air egress openings 16 formed by leaving a space between each -false end 15 and the floor 11 of the car. Within each compartment B is an openwork floor 17 the same occupying a level slightly above the egress opening 16. Said openings 16 open into a space 18 between the floor pro er 11 and an openwork false floor D in the adin chamber C, which latter floor consists of spaced tranverse slats 19 secured to timbers 20 laid on edge and extending longitudinally of the chamber C.

Near the ceiling of chamber C is a conduit 21, the same extendin from end to end of the chamber centrally t ereof; Mediall of said conduit 21 is a short upright brancfi conduit 22, which is supplied with a damper 23. Within the conduit 21 are two spaced dampers 24 and 25, one on one side of said branch conduit22 and one on the other side thereof. And between the dampers 24, 25 and the correspondingends of the conduit 21 are slots 26, 27, the same preferably being formed in the upper side of said conduit. A second conduit 28 closely paralleling the first conduit 21 extends. at its ends throu h the false ends 15 and communicates with t e compartments B at the upper ortions thereof. Means of communication etween the conduits 21 and 28 resides in a short lVithin each compartment -B are two up- I right ducts 31 and 32. Each duct 31 opens at its lower end at the lower portion of its respective compartment B, the upper end thereof extending throughthe side wall 12 of the car and communicating with the outer atmosphere. per end at the upper portion of its respective compartment B, the lower end thereof ex- Each duct 32 opens at its up-v tending through the floor 11 of the car and communicating with the outer atmosphere. Each of said ducts 32 is equipped at its lower extremity with an ovular deflector 33 pivoted slightly above center and adapted, upon movement of the car in either direction, to cause the outflow of air from the duct rather than the inflow of air thereto, as might otherwise be occasioned due to the air disturbances and pressures existing beneath the moving car. Each duct 31 is titted with a damper 34. Each duct 32 is fitted with a damper 35.

In use, one requirement of the system. may be met without employing the fan 30 or ventilating the car, the action of gravity in such instance simply serving to circulate the air in the car. Thus, with said fan 30 idle and withdampers 23, 24 and 25 open, the air in the compartments B is caused to gravitate through the openings 16 into the space 18 beneath the false floor D in chamber C, said air being replaced at the upper portions of the compartments B by air from. the conduit 28, which enters the slots 26, 27 and branch conduit 22 in the first conduit 21 at the upper portion of the chamber C and is thence fed to said conduit 28 through the intercommunicating conduit 29. Rising along the relatively warm side walls of the ear and about the relatively warm lading in chamber C, the air at the lower part of said chamber replaces that air at the ceiling thereof which enters conduit 21. In taking air in conduit 21 through both slots 26 and 27 and through the branch conduit 22 a uniform ciroulat-ionof air within the car is maintained. If the nature of the lading in any given instance or the manner of arrangement of the lading within the chamber 0 requires localizing of the circulation, it may be effected by appropriate adjustment of the dampers 23, 24-and 25. For example, dampers 24 and 25 may be closed and damper 23 left open, whereby air will be admitted to conduit 21 only through the branch conduit 22. In thus confining the admission of air to said conduit 21 at its medial portion, the movement of air in the medial portion of the chamber will be most pronounced. And by slightly openingthe dampers 24 and 25, the circulation of air at the ends of the chamber C will be stimulated. If the circulation is preferably to be most pronounced at one end of the chamber C, the near damper 24 or 25 is opened, the far damper 24 or 25 closed and the damper 23 also closed.

If ventilation of the car is desired in conjunction with an of the above noted air circulatin conditions, it is only necessary to open the ampers 34 and 35 in ducts 31 and 32, more or less as required. The air in duets 31, cooled by the ice in compartments B,

drops from the outside into the lower por tions of the compartments B and joins the well controlled circulation and ventilation is provided, whereby the most desirable preservative conditions may be maintained with in a car in all of the various conditions met in the loading thereof with perishable lading.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, an elongated chamber for lading having refrigerating compartments therein, one at each end of said chamber, the chamber having a false openwork floor, each compartment opening at the lower portion thereof into said chamber beneath said false floor, a central conduit extending longitudinally of the chamber along the ceiling thereof, said conduit-having in its upper side a medial opening and longitudinal slots at either side of said opening, a. damper for said opening, a pair of dampers in said conduit, one at one side of said opening, and one at the other side thereof, a second conduit extending along the ceiling of the chamber and communicating at one end with one compartment and at its other end with the other compartment, a branch conduit bringing said second conduit into communication with said first conduit at a point between said paired dampers, a fan in' said branch conduit for drawing air from the chamber into and through said first conduit" and for impelling such air through the second conduit into said compartments, aneupright ingress duct and an upright egress duct in each compartment, each ingress'duct opening at its upper end into the outer atmosphere and each egress duct opening at its lower end into the outer atmosphere.

2. In combination, an elongated chamber for lading having refrigerating com artments therein, one'at each end of said c amber, each compartment opening at the lower portion thereof into the lower portion of said chamber, a central conduit extending longitudinally of the chamber along the ceiling thereof, said conduit having formed therein a medial opening and longitudinal slots at eitherside of said opening, a damper for said opening, a pair of dampers in said conduit, one atone side of said opening, and one at the other sidet-hereof, a. second conduit extending along the ceiling of the chamber and communicating at-one end with one compartment and at its other end with the other compartment, a branch conduit bringing said second conduit intocommunioation with said first conduit at a point between said paired-dampers, an upright ingress duct and an upright egress duct in each compartment, each lngress duct opening at its upper end into the outer atmosphere and each egress duct opening at its lower end into the medially of said conduit, said conduit having air ingress openings therein between the ends thereofand said dampers, a second conduit extending along the ceiling of the chamberjand communicating at one end with one compartment and at its other end with the other compartment, a branch condult bringing said second conduit into communication with said first conduit at a point between said paired dampers, a fan in said branch conduit for drawing air from the chamber into and through said first conduit and for impelling such air through the second conduit intosaid compartments, means providing for the introduction of fresh air into the lower portion of each compartment and means providing for the escape of air from the upper portion of each compartment.

4. In combination, an elongated chamber for lading having a refrigerating compartment at one end thereof, said compartment opening at the lower portion thereof into the lower portion of said chamber, a central conduit extending longitudinally of the chamber along the ceiling thereof, said conduit having formed therein a medial opening and longitudinal slots at either side of said opening, a damper for said opening, a pair of dampers in said conduit, one at one side of said opening, and one at the other side thereof, a second conduit extending along the ceiling of the chamber communicating with said first conduit at a point between said paired dampers and with the compartment at the upper portion thereof, an upright ingress duct and an upright egress duct in said compartment, the ingress duet opening at its upper end into the outer atmosphere and the egress duct opening at 1ts lower end into the outer atmosphere.

5. In combination, an elongated chamber for lading having a refrigerating compartment at oneend thereof, said compartment opening at the lower portion thereof into the lower portion of said chamber, a conduit extending. longitudinally of the chamber along the ceiling thereof,a pair of s aced dampersmedially of said conduit, sai con- .duit having air ingress openings therein be tween the ends thereof and said dampers, a second conduit extending along the ceiling of the chamber communicating with said first conduit at a pointibetween said paired.

dampers and, with the'compartment at the upper portlon thereof, an upright ingress duct and an upright egress duct in said compartment, the ingress duet opening at its upper end into the outer atmosphere and the egress duct opening at its lower end into the outer atmosphere.

6. In combination, an elongated chamber for lading having a refrigerating compart-- ment atone end thereof, said c'om )artment opening at the lower portion thereo into the lower portion of said chamber, a conduit extending longitudinally of the chamber along the ceiling thereof, a pair of spaced dampers medially of said conduit, said conduit having air ingress openings therein between the ends thereof and said dampers, a se 'ond conduit extending along the ceiling of the chamber communicating with said first conduit at a point between said paired dampers and with the compartment at the upper portion thereof,.means for the introduction of fresh air into the lower portion of the compartment and means for the escapeof air from'the-upper portion of the compartment.

7. In combination, an elongated chamber for lading having a refrigerating compartment at one end thereof, said compartment opening at the lower portion thereof into the lower portion of the chamber, a conduit extending longitudinally of the chamber along the ceiling thereof, a pair of spaced dampers medially of said conduit, said 0011- duit having air ingress openings therein be-' tween the ends thereof and said dampers, a second conduit extending along the ceiling 'of the chamber communicating with said first conduit at a point between said'paired dampers and with the compartment at the ment at one end thereof, said compartment opening at the lower portion thereof into" the lower portion of said chamber, a conduit extending longitudinally of the chamber alongthe ceiling thereof, a pair of spaccd "dampers medially of: said conduit, said conduit having air egress openings therein between the ends thereof and said dampers, a second conduit extending along the ceiling of the chamber communicating. with said first conduit at a point between said paired dampers and with the compartment at the upper portion thereof, a fan for drawing the chamber and being in communication with said compartment at the upper portion thereof, an upright ingress duct'within the compartment open at the upper end thereof into the outer atmosphere, and an upright egress duct in said compartment opening at its lower end into the outer atmosphere.

10. In combination, an elongated chamber for lading having a compartment for a refrigerant at one end thereof, said compartment opening at itslower portion into the lower portion of said chamber, a central conduit arranged longitudinally of said chamber -near the ceiling thereof, said conduit being open along the length thereof to permit. of the ingress thereto of air from the chamber and being in communication with said compartment at the upper portion thereof, a fan associated with said conduit adapted to create suction therein to draw air into the same from the upper portion of the chamber and further adapted to impel such 'indrawn air from said conduit into said compartment, an upright ingress duct within the compartment open at the upper end thereof into the outer atmosphere, and an upright egress duct in said compartment opening at its lower end into the outer atmosphere. 11. In combination,

having a compartment for a' refrigerant at a chamber for lading one end thereof, said compartment opening at its lower portion into the lowerportion of said chamber, means for conveying air from the upper portion of the chamber into the upper portion of said compartment, said means including a conduit and adapted to take in air from the chamber selectively at various localities from end to end therein.

12. In combination, a chamber for lading having a compartment for a refrigerant at one end thereof, said compartment opening at its lower portion into the lower portion of said chamber, means for conveying air from the upper portion of the chamber into the upper portion of said compartment, said means including a conduit multiply valved and adapted to take in air from the chamber localities from end to end therein, means providing for the introduction of fresh air into the lower portion of the compartment, and means providing for the escape of air from the upper portion of said compartment.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name tothis specification.

CHARLES A. MOORE.

multiply valved 60 

